Loadebars satisfy appetite for organic energy bars

Feb. 14, 2013

Loadebar energy bars are made in Tennessee. / Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean

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The Tennessean

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Made in Tennessee is a weekly spotlight featuring products produced in our state. Reach Jen Todd at 615-313-2760 or jtodd1@tennessean.com. For more information about Tennessee products, visit www.picktn-products.org.

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Unlike some small business owners, Norma Maloney never intended to start one. But her homemade, healthy, loaded energy bars were so tasty, she decided to give Loadebar a try.

How did your company get started? It started as an energy food when we started cycling in Canada in 1995. I never thought of doing a business until one day my daughter said to me — she and her husband had just got back from an aerobic conference and someone was selling energy bars — she said, “They didn’t even come near to yours.” At that point I said, “Yes, I’ll do it!” I bought those “dummy” books because I didn’t know what I was doing.

Tell me about the bars. When I started, I wasn’t doing organic. Then I realized the whole industry was changing. Then I realized the vegan community was rising. I kept adjusting to meet the need. It’s sweetened naturally with organic brown rice, and has cranberries, raisins, organic certified gluten-free oats — trying to reach out to that community — almonds, cashews, walnuts. It’s a loaded energy bar. I have two varieties: original and the same bar covered on top with organic dark chocolate.

Where are your products available? Whole Foods in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville and online.

Where are your products manufactured? I have a commercial kitchen. I do everything by hand. Hopefully that will change soon and the demand will pick up.

How long have you been making these products? It took me five years to get to the point when I thought it was ready. It launched in 2011.

Is this a full-time or part-time job? This demands full time. If I’m not in the kitchen working, I’m at home doing paperwork.

What’s next for your company? Next, hopefully, is to get it into every Whole Foods store in the nation. And eventually I’d like to see it in vending machines to replace some of the junk.